Wire-tray-assembly with stud-mount inserts
A wire-tray-assembly includes a wire-tray, a first-insert, and a second-insert. The wire-tray has a first-mounting-tab defining a first-aperture, and a second-mounting-tab defining a second-aperture. The first-insert is releasably retained by the first-mounting-tab and a first-mounting-stud extends through the first-aperture into the first-insert. The first-insert is rotatable about a longitudinal-axis of the first-mounting-stud. The first-insert defines a first-cavity into which are disposed first-pawls configured to releasably engage threads of the first-mounting-stud. The second-insert is releasably retained by the second-mounting-tab and a second-mounting-stud extends through the second-aperture into the second-insert. The second-body defines a second-cavity into which are disposed second-pawls configured to releasably engage threads of the second-mounting-stud. The first-pawls engage the threads of the first-mounting-stud and the second-pawls engage the threads of the second-mounting-stud when an installation-force is applied the first-insert and the second-insert along the longitudinal-axis of the first-mounting-stud and the second-mounting-stud.
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This disclosure generally relates to a wire-tray-assembly, and more particularly relates to a wire-tray-assembly with stud-mount inserts.
The present invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various described embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments.
The assembly 10 includes the wire-tray 14 that is preferably formed of a polymeric dielectric material, such as a polypropylene, that may be molded to fit a contour of a substrate 16, such as a panel of an automobile. The assembly 10 also includes a first-mounting-tab 18 defining a first-aperture 20, and a second-mounting-tab 22 defining a second-aperture 24. In the example illustrated in
The first-mounting-stud 26 is fixed to the substrate 16 and is configured to anchor the assembly 10 to the substrate 16. The first-mounting-stud 26 may be formed of any material, such as a steel-alloy, and in the example illustrated in
The first-body 32 is configured to accept a tool to rotate the first-insert 12A about the longitudinal-axis 34 of the first-mounting-stud 26. In the example illustrated in
The second-body 56 has intersecting-walls 60 forming a generally rectilinear shape extending beyond the second-flange 54. The intersecting-walls 60 are aligned with (i.e., parallel with) the longitudinal-axis 34 of the second-mounting-stud 52. The intersecting-walls 60 define a second-cavity 62 into which are disposed a plurality of second-pawls 64 (see
Referring back to
The second-flange 54 defines a pair of second-opposed-notches 92 located at a midsection of each of two opposing walls of the second-body 56 that underlay the pair of opposing brackets 90. That is, the second-flange 54 is discontinuous along the lateral-axis 58, defining the pair of second-opposed-notches 92. The pair of second-opposed-notches 92 provide a clearance for a fastener, such as a wire-tie 93 (see
The following description applies to both the first-insert 12A and the second-insert 12B.
The plurality of first-pawls 41 and the plurality of second-pawls 64 also include second-stops 106 positioned proximate the webs 100 such that the plurality of first-pawls 41 and the plurality of second-pawls 64 are inhibited from inwardly deflecting when a removal-force 108 is applied along the longitudinal-axis 34 to both the first-insert 12A and the second-insert 12B, thereby resisting the removal-force 108. That is, the plurality of first-pawls 41 engage the threads 28 of the first-mounting-stud 26, and the plurality of second-pawls 64 engage the threads 28 of the second-mounting-stud 52, when the installation-force 96 is applied to both the first-insert 12A and the second-insert 12B along the longitudinal-axis 34 of both the first-mounting-stud 26 and the second-mounting-stud 52.
The plurality of first-pawls 41 and the plurality of second-pawls 64 may include pairs of opposing-pawls, wherein each pair of opposing-pawls is configured to have a different pawl-spacing (see
Accordingly, a wire-tray-assembly 10 (the assembly 10) is provided. The assembly 10 is an improvement over prior art wire tray assemblies because the assembly 10 includes removable stud-mount inserts 12 that may be formed of a different material than that of the wire-tray 14.
While this invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiments thereof, it is not intended to be so limited, but rather only to the extent set forth in the claims that follow. “One or more” includes a function being performed by one element, a function being performed by more than one element, e.g., in a distributed fashion, several functions being performed by one element, several functions being performed by several elements, or any combination of the above. It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. are, in some instances, used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first contact could be termed a second contact, and, similarly, a second contact could be termed a first contact, without departing from the scope of the various described embodiments. The first contact and the second contact are both contacts, but they are not the same contact. The terminology used in the description of the various described embodiments herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the description of the various described embodiments and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “if” is, optionally, construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting,” depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [a stated condition or event] is detected” is, optionally, construed to mean “upon determining” or “in response to determining” or “upon detecting [the stated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting [the stated condition or event],” depending on the context. Directional terms such as top, bottom, upper, lower, left, right, front, rear, etc. do not denote any particular orientation, but rather these directional terms are used to distinguish one element from another and establish a relationship between the various elements.
Claims
1. A wire-tray-assembly, comprising:
- a wire-tray having a first-mounting-tab defining a first-aperture, and a second-mounting-tab defining a second-aperture;
- a first-insert releasably retained by the first-mounting-tab and overlaying the first-aperture such that a first-mounting-stud extends through the first-aperture into the first-insert; and
- a second-insert releasably retained by the second-mounting-tab and overlaying the second-aperture such that a second-mounting-stud extends through the second-aperture into the second-insert;
- wherein the first-insert retains the first-mounting-stud and the second-insert retains the second-mounting-stud when an installation-force is applied along a longitudinal-axis of both the first-mounting-stud and the second-mounting-stud to both the first-insert and the second-insert, wherein the second-mounting-tab further defines a second-retention-cavity configured to retain the second-insert, the second-retention-cavity having the generally rectilinear shape, and wherein the second-aperture is located within a floor of the second-retention-cavity.
2. A wire-tray-assembly, comprising:
- a wire-tray having a first-mounting-tab defining a first-aperture, and a second-mounting-tab defining a second-aperture;
- a first-insert releasably retained by the first-mounting-tab and overlaying the first-aperture such that a first-mounting-stud extends through the first-aperture into the first-insert; and
- a second-insert releasably retained by the second-mounting-tab and overlaying the second-aperture such that a second-mounting-stud extends through the second-aperture into the second-insert;
- wherein the first-insert retains the first-mounting-stud and the second-insert retains the second-mounting-stud when an installation-force is applied along a longitudinal-axis of both the first-mounting-stud and the second-mounting-stud to both the first-insert and the second-insert, wherein the second-insert has a second-flange and a second-body and is moveable along a lateral-axis of the second-mounting-stud.
3. The wire-tray-assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein the second-mounting-tab further defines a pair of first-opposed-notches located at a midsection of each of two opposing sides of the second-aperture.
4. The wire-tray-assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein the second-insert includes second opposed locking-tabs extending from a midsection of each of two opposing walls of the second-body and aligned with the longitudinal-axis, the second opposed locking-tabs disposed within the pair of first-opposed-notches and engaging a bottom-surface of the second-mounting-tab thereby inhibiting a removal of the second-insert from the second-mounting-tab.
5. The wire-tray-assembly in accordance with claim 4, wherein the second-insert includes a second-blocking-rib configured to inhibit the second-mounting-stud from extending beyond the second-body.
6. The wire-tray-assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein the second-flange engages a top-surface of the second-mounting-tab proximate a perimeter of the second-aperture.
7. The wire-tray-assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein the second-body has intersecting-walls forming a generally rectilinear shape extending beyond the second-flange, the intersecting-walls aligned with the longitudinal-axis of the second-mounting-stud.
8. The wire-tray-assembly in accordance with claim 7, wherein the intersecting-walls define a second-cavity into which are disposed a plurality of second-pawls configured to releasably engage threads of the second-mounting-stud.
9. The wire-tray-assembly in accordance with claim 8, wherein the plurality of second-pawls are attached to inner-surfaces of the second-cavity by webs that define pivot-points, the pivot-points enabling the plurality of second-pawls to outwardly deflect when engaging the threads of the second-mounting-stud.
10. The wire-tray-assembly in accordance with claim 9, wherein the plurality of second-pawls include second-stops positioned proximate the webs such that the plurality of second-pawls are inhibited from inwardly deflecting when a removal-force is applied along the longitudinal-axis to the second-insert.
11. The wire-tray-assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein the second-mounting-tab further includes a first-stop and a second-stop configured to limit a movement of the second-insert along the lateral-axis of the second-mounting-stud, and further includes a first-side and a second-side configured to limit the movement of the second-insert along a transverse-axis of the second-mounting-stud orthogonal to both the longitudinal-axis and the lateral-axis.
12. The wire-tray-assembly in accordance with claim 11, wherein the first-side and the second-side also include opposing guide-beams that overlay a portion of the second-aperture and are aligned with the lateral-axis, the opposing guide-beams defining a first-surface and a second-surface.
13. The wire-tray-assembly in accordance with claim 12, wherein the second-insert includes a pair of opposing brackets extending from a midsection of two opposing walls along the transverse-axis, the pair of opposing brackets slideably engage the first-surface of the opposing guide-beams and transfer a retention-force from the second-mounting-stud to the second-mounting-tab.
14. The wire-tray-assembly in accordance with claim 12, wherein the second-flange slideably engages the second-surface of the opposing guide-beams and inhibits the second-insert from being separated from the second-mounting-tab when the installation-force is applied to the second-insert.
15. The wire-tray-assembly in accordance with claim 12, wherein the second-flange defines a pair of second-opposed-notches located at a midsection of each of two opposing walls of the second-body.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Nov 5, 2018
Date of Patent: Jan 26, 2021
Patent Publication Number: 20190136895
Assignee: HellermannTyton Corporation (Milwaukee, WI)
Inventors: James S. Teece (Cederburg, WI), Scott J. Adams (Menomonee Falls, WI)
Primary Examiner: Eret M McNichols
Application Number: 16/180,732
International Classification: F16B 21/07 (20060101); H02G 3/32 (20060101); B60R 16/02 (20060101); F16B 21/10 (20060101); H02G 3/04 (20060101);